The MN Senate Committee on Local and Metropolitan
Government said yesterday that "it's OK to build a new
stadium for the Twins -- just don't use any public money,"
according to Robert Whereatt of the Minneapolis STAR
TRIBUNE. The committee amended the current stadium bill,
calling on Twins Owner Carl Pohlad to contribute $50M to the
ballpark, instead of the originally negotiated contribution
of $15M. Minneapolis was also dropped as the "preferred
site" for the ballpark, allowing other cities to bid, and
all tax increases, including ticket taxes, a new lottery
game and a cigarette tax increase were deleted from the
bill. The STAR TRIBUNE's Whereatt: "If that language is
interpreted broadly ... every conceivable public revenue
source at the state level, and even city and county taxes,
could not be used for a stadium." Bob Pohlad, son of Carl,
said without public financing, revenue from the ballpark
"would have to be earmarked for construction, leaving the
team" with no operating funds. The bill now goes to the
State Senate Tax Committee (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 3/25).
